A la guerra ya me llevan
1968 · Buena Suerte 929 · Temple, Texas
- Artist
- Little Joe & The Latinaires
- Title
- A la guerra ya me llevan
- Release
- A la guerra ya me llevan / Como un perro
- Year
- 1968
- Label
- Buena Suerte # 929
- Format
- 7" · Single
- Language
- Spanish
- Country
- Temple, Texas, USA
- Genre
- Hispanic Music · Tejano · Ranchera
- Primary theme
- Peace, Protest & Anti-War
Annotation
The tejano song "A la guerra ya me llevan" ("They're Taking Me to the War") (Buena Suerte Records # 929), narrated from the soldier's perspective, expressed opposition to being drafted to go to the war, leaning towards the anti-war side: "they're taking me against my will". Little Joe performed the song, a Mexican-American, born in Temple, Texas (17 October 1940), as José María De León Hernández. This political song helped established him as a major artist in the 1960s Chicano movement. He founded the record label Buena Suerte Records in 1968, based in Temple, TX. (1) (2) (3) The narration saw the soldier expressing sympathy towards his mother, father, and girlfriend, telling them that "if in combat I find death, I wouldn't want you to cry". The narrator also said that as he headed off to war, taken away from his family, he regretted fighting with his father. Note that Little Joe also released the Vietnam-related corrido El prisionero de Vietnam, with the group Little Joe & The Starlites, discussed below.
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
About the artist
Born 17 October 1940, Temple, Texas, USA
Themes
In collections
Draft Songs · Mexican-American / Hispanic Songs · Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs